Welcome to the first day of Spring 2019! After a very cold Winter a warm start to Spring is a very welcome change. Today’s high in Central Saskatchewan is plus 5. Yes, a plus in front of the number. There are signs of spring everywhere. More people out walking, a few Canada geese pairs flying overhead, water running in the streets, fields starting to show under their blanket of snow. Blue skies and sunshine in the forecast. Looks like a great rest of March to come.

More signs of Spring are the provincial campground reservations systems are all available now.

Note that not all campgrounds in all parks may be available yet as provinces often stagger the open dates to manage the volume.

It’s officially Spring Snow Goose season, but don’t head out spotting yet. The white geese are still several weeks away. We wont see them until some of the water bodies open up as their push north depends on being able to find both water to roost and food in the fields. I was out ice fishing yesterday, still 3-1/2 feet of ice to auger through so big water is going to be awhile still.

Speaking of ice fishing, March is typically the best month for ice fishing so get out while you can. In most southern zones, ice shacks should have already been removed but that shouldn’t stop you from spending a sunny day drilling holes and catching fish.

Spring is now officially here. In reality, the arrival of Spring is highly variable across the prairie Provinces. Southern Alberta has anglers reaching for their rods and tackle boxes as seasons open up on some of the mountain streams while others will remain closed in May/June. Make sure you check your regulations for what waters are open. I have a number of flies and my fly rods at the ready to go join a buddy from Lethbridge and catch some fresh mountain trout in the foothills waters. As you move further east and north, most lakes are still covered with a health coat of ice but thin ice conditions in some southern zones are dangerous and in need of caution. I was fishing central Saskatchewan last week and buried the ice auger shaft at one point meaning the ice is still 3-1/2 feet thick. The later half of March is often the peak of the ice fishing bite. All the shacks should have been removed by now but portable huts are still usually permitted as long at they are removed when you leave the ice for the day.

Spring also brings the Snow Goose flock control exercises. March 15th is the season opening date in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, although you may not see any huntable flocks of snow geese until mid-April. Early season flocks of snow geese can be hunted in Alberta often as early as the beginning of April. Snow geese will rise and fall in latitude with the availability of large open water and food supply. Because flock sizes are typically in the 10’s of thousands, both of these need to be in large quantity or the birds will simply hold where the food and water is available. It’s not uncommon for birds to move north, even all the way to central Saskatchewan, then retreat to North Dakota if there is a significant early to mid April snow fall. Canada geese have been making their presence known in Central Saskatchewan for several weeks already, but in small flocks of 10 or less so open water can be sheet water in a field or a slough edge and food sources only need to support a few beaks, not thousands. of course, only snow geese (including Ross’s Geese) are legal to hunt in the Spring.

Bear seasons don’t open up until mid April so no need to get out the rifles and bows, unless you want to shoot some target practice.

Because of the highly variable conditions, Spring hunting and Spring fishing can be dangerous times of the year. So get out there, be careful, and enjoy the Prairie Outdoors.

Some recent stories from this ice fishing season serve as reminders that ice conditions can vary across the same body of water. On water bodies with flowing water, including rivers and river fed lakes, the higher rates of flow in some areas can leave spots of thinner ice. On rivers, watch for areas where water flows over or around obstructions including man made obstructions such as bridge piers as the ice immediately before and after is often thinner. Where water flows down a set of rapids or over a weir the ice can be thinner for up to a kilometer or more. Just witness the mostly ice free section of the South Saskatchewan river flowing through Saskatoon this winter. The power plant at the south end of town releases warmer water and the weir in the center of the city roughly between downtown and the university breaks up the formation of ice. Add to this the many bridge piers and the result is very inconsistent or complete lack of ice this winter.

Many lakes are fed by rivers, underground springs, or both. The under surface flow of the river current through a lake will mean thinner ice, especially at the mouths of the river and any narrow passages. Underground springs can also produce inconsistent ice thickness. During warming cycles, these underground springs can run stronger and any snow melt on surrounding hills can produce runoff streams that weaken the ice up to several hundred meters from shore.

If you are unfamiliar with a body of water, play it safe and follow the lead of local anglers and stick to the wheel tracks of others.

With the recent blizzard rolling across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, it’s hard to imagine the the ice shack removal dates are quickly approaching.

Fishing last weekend and earlier this week in central Saskatchewan, the ice was over 3 feet thick, approaching 3-1/2 feet, nearly at the limits of my ice auger shaft. Even with the recently mild weather, prior to the blizzard we had highs approaching 10 degrees, we haven’t lost any ice yet, just snow melt on top of the ice.

Manitoba Ice Shelter Removal Dates

In Manitoba, ice-fishing shelters must be removed by March 12 on the Red River, March 31 across the rest of southern Manitoba and by April 15 for the rest of Manitoba.

Saskatchewan Ice Shelter Removal Dates

In Saskatchewan, ice fishing shacks must be removed by March 15 in the South Fishing Zone and March 31st in the North.

In most area, the use of pop-up shelters (such as shown below) are permitted up to the end of March, as long as the shelter is erected and removed during the same day outing. That is, it can not be left unattended.

Remember, despite the annual dates that are posted by the provincial governments regarding ice-shack removal dates, always check the thickness of ice before going out. Never walk on ice that is less than 10 cm (4 in.) thick and do not drive on ice that is less than 30 cm (12 in.) thick.

This coming long weekend, Saturday February 18th, Sunday the 19th, and Monday the 20th, in conjunction with Family Day, anglers can fish in Saskatchewan without need for a license. Of course, it’s ice fishing season so bundle up a bit and get out on the lake. The weather forecast is for mild temperatures so it should be busy out there.

Note that free fishing does not apply to National Parks in Saskatchewan and if you want to transport fish out of Saskatchewan you need to posses a valid fishing license.

When your feet get cold, your day on the ice is done. If you want to extend your day so you have time to catch more fish, use these simple tricks to keep your feet warm. First of all, in general, dress like it’s 15 degrees colder than actual temperature, from head to toe. You can always take off too much clothes but it’s hard to add clothes you don’t have. Remember, you are standing on a three foot thick block of ice. If the wind is also blowing, that bites through you quick. So try these tips for warm feet.

Double up socks and wear good boots. Just because you can wear a pair of shoes for the walk to the mail box, don’t think these will stand the test of hours on the cold lake. Get good quality thermal socks and double them up if you can fit them in your boots.

Wear your cold water waders. If you think having your lower body wrapped in insulation is a good thing when standing in a flowing stream, take that out on the hardwater and you may never go back.

Put hot shots under your feet. These are the little heater packs that give off heat for about 4 hours. They may make it more uncomfortable to walk, but if your toes are warmer, that’s a good trade.

Use a 2 x 6 block of wood, under your feet. Place this between your feet and the ice when you are sitting on your bucket or chair and it will act as an insulating barrier. Cut a piece just short enough that it will fit in your ice fishing bucket and bring it with you.

Plastic bag your feet. This old trick has been used to keep feet dry for decades. It also keep them warm by not letting heat escape.

An easy tip here to double your chances for catching fish while ice fishing. Simple, use two lines.

In Canada you are allowed to use up to two lines in the water while ice fishing. Two lures in the water will increase your chance of catching fish. Does that mean you have to try to fish with a rod in each hand and two holes? No, of course not. What I like to do is drill two holes, at least 10 meters apart, and put a tip-up rig down one hole and set my bucket seat at the other with my jigging rod.

I always set myself up so that I am somewhat aligned with the bucket, the hole I am jigging in, and the tip up hole. That way I can see the tip up hole without having to turn around. If you are thinking ahead, on a breezy day, put the tip up down wind of you. That way you have the wind at your back, making it easier to stay warm.

To make sure you comply with the fishing regulations, you have to keep both lines within 25 meters of you and within line of sight. So if you are fishing in an ice shack or a pop-up shack, you need to leave a door open and the hole within the required 25 meters.

There are many styles of tip up equipment. My new favorite is called a Jaw Jacker Hook Setter. What I really like about this style is that when a fish is hooked, you still get to fish/retrieve the fish with a rod and reel. Some tip up products require the line to be hand over hand retrieved which is just not the same.

When I go ice fishing I don’t have the luxury of having all the electronics and all the gear that can possibly be purchased for ice fishing, so I have learned how to adapt in a few ways. One way is to use the reel on my ice fishing rods as depth finder. Water depth is often an important piece of information when fishing and without a depth finder or a flasher, it can be hard to guess based on the amount of line you let loose from your spool. But there is an easy way, simply use the amount of line spooled per turn of your crank handle to measure.

Finding out how much line your reel cranks in is easy. I use 20 feet as the reference point. To do this, I first get my measuring tape and layout 20 feet on my deck.

Then hook your lure in lightly at the beginning of your measuring tape.

Un-spool your line back to the 20 foot mark, then crank it back to the lure, counting the number of turns. Divide 20 feet by the number of turns and you will know how many feet per turn of the crank handle. Next time you are out fishing, drop your lure to the bottom, crank it up and do the math.

Do this for all your reels. The feet per turn of the crank will vary with the size of the spool as well as how much line you keep on your reel. For my two reels, the amounts are 2 feet per turn

and 1.9 feet per turn. So I just go by 2 feet per turn for both. I don’t often fish at depths beyond 20 feet so it’s a pretty quick and easy way to check the depth.

If I drill multiple holes, trying to find the drop off point of some structure, I can check the depth of each hole in 30 seconds or less.

Ice Fishing Essentials Gear List

5 Gallon Bucket & Seat

Auger

Rod & Reels (x 3)

Hooks

Tackle Box Tray

Bait

Hole Cleaner

By essential ice fishing gear, we mean the minimum requirements to get out and enjoy a day on the frozen lake. This is not everything, and it’s not the high end of ice fishing gear. That’s another article.

To start with, and we try to list off the obvious items first, you need a 5 gallon bucket with a lid. The bucket is your tackle box and your seat. If you are trying to take more gear than you can fit in a 5 gallon bucket, you are taking too much. Inside the bucket should be your ice fishing rod and reel, your bait, and your single box of hooks and weights. Add to this a hole cleaner (like a big perforated soup ladle) and you are stocked with the basics. If you plan on keeping some of your catch, then you need to add a filet knife and some plastic storage bags. Remember, it should all fit in the bucket. The only things not likely to fit in the bucket are the rods and reels, but there is a solution to that.

I’m a big fan of The Fishin Hole so I’m going to feature some product pics available at their stores.

Once you get to your spot, you need an ice auger. If we were trying to fish with primitive weapons I would say a hand crank auger, but when you have up to 4 feet of ice to drill through during a cold Saskatchewan winter, you NEED a power auger. Generally there are 8″ diameter and 10″ diameter models available. Don’t be cheap on your auger, get a quality 10″ auger. If you are planning on drilling a dozen holes or so, you don’t want the auger to ruin your day. Make sure you have the tank full of your oil/gas mixture before you leave so you don’t need to mess with that on the ice.

So you have a few holes drilled and you can set the auger aside for awhile. Now make sure you have the least expensive item in your ice fishing tackle box / bucket ready to go, the hole cleaner.

Some people call it a skimmer, or an ice ladle. No matter what you call it, when your holes start to freeze over, this $5 tool will make it easy to remove that thin top layer of ice from the hole.

The bucket, as was mentioned first, is your tackle box and your seat. I recommend you buy a pivoting bucket seat cover to go with your bucket. It gives a little bit of extra cushion for your butt and lets you move around easier. You will want a lid that is easy on and easy off as you will be storing your tackle in it and you will need to go in and out of it frequently. One custom modification you will want to make is to drill a hole in an outer flap on the lid and loop a zip tie through the bucket handle and the hole you drilled. When you put your rods in the bucket, they will stick out the top too far to bend under the lid. So let the lid dangle, but not get left behind.

Your choice in lures and bait is almost endless. I have three favorites that I like to have pre-tied on three separate rod and reel combos. When you are out on the ice, especially on a cold and windy day, tying knots can be difficult. Have three rods rigged up will keep you fishing and able to adjust your lure and bait presentation quickly.

Above left is a Swimming Jig. I used to use just a regular jig head, the same as when summer jigging over a walleye hole. It was my go to lure. Now I like the action of the swimming jig which seems to produce strikes a little better, especially with perch. To add some flash to the presentation, the Whopper Hawger in the middle is easy to fish and with a single J hook is also quick to release the fish. When I’m targeting walleye and pike, I like the Lindy Darter which also has a rattle feature to attract predators from further away. For bait, check with your local tackle shop, but the standard meal worms for perch and minnows for pike and walleye will never go out of style. Leaches may also work well but are hard to handle in the cold with gloves on .

I always multiple lures of each kind available, in varying weights and colors, just in case I feel the need to change up. The need to change up is usually triggered by the guy next to you out fishing you 3 to 1 using an orange lure while you are using green. Keep them in a tackle box utility tray, just one. Don’t try to bring your whole tackle box with you, just bring the one tray, with just the essentials. Less gear makes for less hassle out on the ice.

I mentioned before to have 3 rods rigged up and ready. I like to have rods rigged up for the lure/bait combination so that there is no waiting and no tying while on the ice. Pick the rod, add the bait to the hook and drop it down the hole. I am far less fussy about the rod and reel for ice fishing than I am for fly fishing. You can get a good quality ice fishing rod and reel combo for $35 to $45 dollars. At that price, get 2 or 3. When you save yourself tying time in a -30 windchill, you will know.

So there are your Essentials for Ice Fishing Gear. As I am writing this post, I keep finding myself wanting to drift into talking about some higher end ice fishing gear, some which is listed below. That will be a future article.

Ice Fishing Advanced Gear List

When you go beyond the bare essentials, you quickly empty your wallet, but add to the experience.

If you enjoy ice fishing, then you are among the dedicated few who will take on all challenges to spend time outdoors and catch fish in any weather conditions. The key to ice fishing success is not necessarily how to catch more fish or bigger fish but how to make ice fishing a more enjoyable experience. Follow some, or all, of these tips to be more comfortable and to get the most out of your day on the lake.

Bring along a thick board to place both of your feet on. It will insulate your feet from the ice, and you’ll stay warmer longer. Make sure it’s wide enough.

The ideal depth for ice fishing is 6-12 inches off the bottom. that’s where fish tend to be in the winter months.

Try an underwater camera next time you go ice fishing. Drill three holes in the ice, each about 2 feet apart, in a line. Drop the camera down one of the outside holes and aim it towards the lures/bait you drop down the other two holes. see the article

Use the drive-by fish finder method. Drive by the lake you plan to fish the day prior, a few hours after sunrise. Everybody should be set up, and you should get a good idea of where the fish are.

Smooth the edges of the hole above and below the ice. This will prevent your line from being nicked and cut by the sharp edges of the hole.

Don’t waste your money on an expensive heated pad or seat. It’s too much stuff to carry. Instead, use a five gallon bucket to carry your gear out to the fishing spot and turn it over to use as a seat while you are fishing. Put a thick piece of wood under the bucket as insulation.